Apparatus for making a toroid



Feb. 5, 1952 M. THOMPSON ETAL 2,584,514

APPARATUS FOR MAKING A TOROID Filed Dec. 9, 194? 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 '12 i 9 L n V T I MEYER THOMPSON DfiN/EL 7: 7'HOMP5'0N IN V EN TORS HTTOENEV 1952 M. THOMPSON ETAL 2,584,514

APPARATUS FOR MAKING A TOROID 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 9, 1947 MEI E2 THOMPSON DflN/EL 71 THOMPSON IN V EN TORS 1Q TT GENE V Feb. 5, 1952 M. THOMPSON ET AL APPARATUS FOR MAKING A TOROID 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 9, 1947 MEYER THOMPSON DEN/EL 7: THOMPSON INVENTORS HTTOENEV Feb. 5, 1952 M. THOMPSON ETAL APPARATUS FOR MAKING A TOROID Filed Dec. 9, 1947 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I, IlIlIll!IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII! MEYER THOMPSON DION/E4 7- THOMPSON INVENTORS QTTOENEV Patented Feb. 5, 1952 APPARATUS FOR MAKING A 'ronom Meyer Thompson and Daniel T. Thompson, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 9,1947, Serial No. 790,688 15 Claims. (of. 107-8) This invention relates to apparatus for forming plastic, deformable, pliant, compositions such as dough into the shape of a toroid. Machines have heretofore been provided for forming dough.

into the shape of a toroid, such as doughnut machines. However, the dough of certain products, such as that known as bagels, is of such a heavy, tough, elastic consistency that it can not be handled on doughnut machines and it has heretofore been necessary to form the bagel dough by hand. The dough is first rolled into cylindrical form and turned about the fingers of the operator to form a toroid with the ends overlapping. Then the overlapping ends are hand rolled into pressed, meshing, consolidated, integral relation, forming the toroid. This manner of manually forming the dough into a toroid is not only slow and ineflicient, but due to the rolling of the overlapping ends, the result is an irregular deformed toroid.

It is, therefore, the primary object of this invention to provide apparatus for forming dough into circular toroid shape.

Another object is to provide apparatus for forming toroids of dough or other deformable plastic in a continuous and economical manner.

A further object is to provide apparatus having the above characteristics that will form divided dough into a cylindrical form and thereafter form the cylindrical shaped dough into a toroid.

A still further object is to provide apparatus for forming cylindrical shaped dough into circular form and rotating the circular form about its axis of revolution to form a homogenous, edible product in the shape of a toroid.

A still further object is to provide apparatus for continuously forming divided dough into cylindrical form, feeding the same onto a work table for forming cylindrical dough into a toroid and thereafter rotating the toroid in the direction of its main axis, whereby to form the toroid into a homogenous, integral mass.

Still other objects reside in the simplicity, the efliciency and durability of the apparatus, as well as its positive and efiicient operation.

The above and other objects may be made apparent throughout the further description of the invention when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts. It is to be understood that the drawings are not a definition of the invention but merely illustrate an exemplary form by means of which the invention may be efiectuated.

In the drawings:

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line "*II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, sectional view of a detail shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Fi 1.

ratus embodying the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken along the line VV of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VIVI of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 'VII--VII 0f Fig. 2.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 illustrate the various steps of forming the cylindrical dough into a toroid.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken through one of the forming chambers showing the dough folded about a forming plunger prior to rotating the dough'about a vertical axis for connecting and amalgamating the dough into an integral toroid.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing an intermediate position of the dough in the forming chamber.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 and shows the position of the forming plunger subsequent to the completion of rotating the ring of dough about its axis.

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic illustration of a cam-' way embodied in the invention.

The terms torus and toroid as used herein relate to shapes of objects resembling a doughnut, ring or tire; in their classical embodiment they are objects having a body circular in cross section, the object body being provided with a surface which would be generated by rotating the circle about an axis spaced from the circle.

In the form shown, the apparatus includes a housing, represented in its entirety by Hi, the side walls of which may be cylindrical. The housing In is provided with a stationary bottom II, which may be slightly elevated from the sup-' porting foundation [2 by means of legs or angle its entirety by 18'. The turret l8 has its bottom 19 concentrically mounted on the hub 2| of a gear 22 and is rotatable with the latter. The

gear meshes with a pinion 23, driven by a motorjd through a reduction gear mechanism- 25. The gear 22, which supports the turret I8, rests on a bearing 26, carried by the upper end of a bearing block 27, the latter having a flanged lower end 28 which rests upon the bottom H of the housing and may be welded thereto, as shown at 29. The gear 22 is held concentric with the bearing block 2,? by means of a vertical shaft. 3!, the lower end of the shaft 3i being journaled in a bearing 32 mounted within the tubular block 27. Concentric with the turret l8 and bearing block 21 is a tubular shaft 33 havinga flanged lower end 34 resting upon the bottom IQ of the turret l8 and fixed to the bottoml9 and the hub 2| of the gear 22 by means of bolts 35. bolts 35 maintain the tubular shaft; 33, turret l8 and gear 22 in rigid, fixed relation andiarranged to rotate in unison.

The vertical shaft 3| is held rigid within the tubular shaft33iby. means otthestop screws. 35

and is turnable in unison therewith bythe gear;

22. The upper end of. the. tubularshaft, 3,3 is flanged at 31, the latter being connected; to. the. bottom of the. top 3.8 of. the. rotatable turret, 18 by means of bolts 39. MountedIon. the. top 38 of, the. turret i8: is a hub 4|... Theihubi 4-1 is positioned concentric with. the tubular shaft, 33 and arranged to receive; theshaft; 31.. The, hub M is held rigid with the top 18 anditi rnable, with the top "Land: tubular shaftst by. means of. the

bolts 39, which extend through. the flange 31 of the tubular shait' 33,. bottom 38, of the. turret l8 and: into the bottom. of thehub 4!. The hub 4| is provided with an annular recess 42,,forming lower and upper, horizontally .e tending, an-L nularilanges 43 and 4.4;.respective1yi A plurality; of radially disposed. vertically aligned openlugs 45; are provided through thegflanges 43 and 44 for receiving belts or shaftslifi,v the purpose of which willbelater described-. The; shaf t 3 l extends above the hub 4| through a; stationary bearing block 41-. carried; bythe: lower surface of the top l5. Thebfiaringblock; 41, is flangedat its upper end igand. connectedto the: bottom. 15 by, bolts 49. The upper end of the shait. 3! isarranged to receiv acam. member a sa h portion 52, the latterbeinsfimd to andturnable with theshaftfl by means o he stopo ew: 5.

Ihese channel-shaped stifieners l4 fixed to the inner side walls of the housing Ill. The curvature of the cam-Way or passageway 66 is best shown in Figs. 1 and 14. The portion of the cam-way 60 as indicated between A and B in Fig. 14 is horizontal, the portion of the track as indicated between the points Band C slopesfdownwardly, the portion of the track as indicated between the points C and D is horizontal and the remainder of the track between the points indicated between. D and- A slopes upwardly. The cam-way 6B in plane is a cylindrical curved track. It can now be understood that as the turret rotates, the T-shaped slides or brackets 51 will reciprocate upwardly and downwardly in response to the r'ol1ers59 traveling in the cam-way $0. The members 62 and 63 forming the cam-way 60 may be spaced from the projection 54 by means of spacer. membersfifi carried; by bolts 911;; the lat e extending; through plates 88 fixed to tl1e;proiection 6.4.;

The. vertical m mbers. pro ng. he T-.

. hapedtracks ts xtendah ve the. t p oa hs:

r the apparatus and rotate in unison with the tuii Itcan new. beaunde stood. a t e! urr t 8.

tubularshaft 313;, shait 31 and hub l l and" cam,

5! rotate in. unison. w h; he e r.- he. latter being. rotated; at, a predetermined speed by the.

motor 24: through the reduction gear mechanism 25 andpinionlfi. In the form shown, the sides.

of theturret-are octagonal in shape and each of the sections, indicated at 54, may include verti-.

cal, stationary slides 55. The slides 55are formed to provide T-shaped tracks 56 for receiving reciprocatingv T-shaped supports 5lslidably mounted withinthe T-shaped track 56. Each of the slidable-T-shaped supports 51 is provided adjacent its lower end with an outwardly, ex tending stub shaft 58 having mounted. thereon. a roller 59.

wardly within the T-shaped tracks 56 simultaneously with the-rotation of the turret l8 carrying the slides 55. For the purpose of effecting the. vertical reciprocation of the slides 55, there is.

provided a stationary, curved track, represented in its entirety by 6|, in which the rollers 59, are

ret it. Each of the sections l2 of the worktable is provided with a central opening through which vertical forming plungers 1.3 are arranged for vertical reciprocation. The lower end of the iorrning plunger i3. is attached tov a bracket 58 by means of a bolt 75, the; bracket 53 being. slid ably mounted in its cooperating IT-shaped. slide. 5?, so that as the turret rotates, the. roller 59 on the lower. end of the If-shaped slide traveling in the'passageway, Bil-will cause the forming plunger l3 tomove downwardly and upwardly. in accordance. with the curvature of. the passageway 56,, Positioned.- below each of the openings it. is. provided a. vertical, cylin .drical forming chamber, represented in its. en.- tirety by 74.

the work table'is substantially one third of. .1

' cylinder indicatedat F3.

The T shaped sliding supports. 51.. are arranged to reciprocate upwardly and down-.

arrangedto travel. The track 6| may consist of spaced, curved members 62 and 63, the members 62; and 63fbeing spaced'apartto form a passagey. or. y nd: are r edi v' r ttions 64 extending inwardly from the vertical The, forming cylinder W is completed by two, hinged, curved plates composing, substantially twoethirds of a cylinder. Theseplates farefjindifcfated an and The adiaoentends of'the cylinder segments ll 18 "'a,f I hinged tog ther at 19. The stationary segment 18' of each 'formlng cylinder is supported bya membertl, theinner end of which rests onthe; gonal'ly shaped" top, 3B of the turret. and may be wel'degfjhereto, asshown at 82, The stationary segment 15;. which is. integral w ltheupper cylindrical portion lea. oithe form cylinder, may be bolted to the b means of bolts The hinged; inovable ments El and. it oi the forming cylinder arepivotally supported on a link 85, as shown at 832 the link 35 having one of its endspivotally con-- nected to an. arm 87, shown at 38, the inner end of the arm 8'! being'pivotally connectedto the hub 4! by means of the bolt or shaft #35, asshownat 8%. The function and operation of-t'hepivoted be later described.

Mounted on the outer, upper ends of the supports BI is a horizontally disposed, annular plate member Ill. The annular plate I is positioned below the plane of the work table 12 and is provided with cam slots 92 for cooperating with upwardly extending cam rollers 93 carried by the links 85. Each of the links 85 consists of two parts pivoted in the center at the point in which the cam roller 33 is carried. Each of the cam slots s2 is so formed that when the arm 3?, which is controlled by link 94, is moved in the opposite direction relative to the direction of rotation of the work table, the hinged segments i? and it of the forming cylinder will be moved in a di rection away from the rotation of the work table and out of contact with the stationary se'gment I6 of the forming cylinder. The movement of the arm 8'! is effected by means of an upstanding cam roller 96 carried at the pivot point of each of the links 94, one end of the link 94 being piv- -."1tally connected to its associated arm Bl, shown at Ell, and its other end pivotally connected to the upper surface of the octagonal shaped turret top 38, as shown at 38. As the cam roller 96 is brought into contact with the stationary cam surface 99, the link 94 will be turned about the pivot point carrying the cam roller 58 and cause the link 8? to be drawn rearwardly toward the stationary pivot point 93 of the link 34 (see Fig. 5). During this movement, the cam roller 33 carried by the link 35 willbe moved rearwardly in the cam slot 52 for the distance indicated by the straight portion IBI and thereby carrying the toroid away from the stationary segment I6 from the forming cylinder, and as the cam roller 33 contacts the angular portion, indicated at I02, of the cam slot 92, the segments I1 and I8 of the forming cylinder will be caused to spread apart about their pivot point I9 and per mit the toroid to fall therefrom onto a slide I03 carried by each of the octagonal faces 54 of the top 33 of the turret I8. The slide IE3 is adapted to deliver the toroid to a suitable conveyor, indicated at I04.

Positioned above and carried by the top I5 of the housing I0 is a framework consisting of vertical standards I05, the tops of the standards I05 being connected by horizontal angular members I 05, the members I05 and I03 providing a supporting frame for spaced pulleys I01, these pulleys being rotatably mounted on the horizontal frame members I06 by means of suitable bearing blocks, as indicated at I03. An endless belt I09 is provided around the pulleys I01. Any suitable means not shown may be employed for rotating either one of the pulleys IIl'I for causing the endless belt I09 to travel continuously around the pulleys I01. Divided dough to be formed into cylindrical shape and later into the shape of a toroid is intermittently deposited on the upper surface of the belt I09, as shown at III). For the purpose of rotating the divided dough into cylindrical form there is provided a band I I I extending from substantially midway the top of the belt I09 around the right end of the belt Ills and back under the belt for substantially the horizontal length of the belt, as indicated at I I2. From the point 2 the band diverts downwardly, as indicated at II3, where it is arranged to deliver the cylindrical dough onto a roller II4. roller H4 is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally extending fins or projections I I 5, forming troughs for receiving individual pieces of cylindrical dough,;the operation of which will be later described. The band III is spacedfrom- The.

the belt I09 a predetermined distance to'provide cylindrical dough of the desired diameter, and at the entrance of the band III there may be provided an upwardly extending portion H3 for guiding the divided dough-under the band III. The band I I I may be supported by a framework, indicated generally at Ill, and attached thereto by bolts IIB, the latter having a spring therearound and interposed between the band I I I and support II'I, whereby the band III is permitted a degree of flexibility during the passage of the dough between the band III and the belt I39. The band III and the peripheral surface of the right-hand pulley may be so formed as to terminate the ends of the cylindrical dough somewhat tapered and reduced so that the overlapping of the ends in forming the toroid will result in a uniform diameter.

Means is provided for successively rotating the roller H4 for successively delivering cylindrical dough, indicated at I2I, onto a section 52 of the work table and in alignment with the forming groove I23 provided around the forming plunger I3. Means is provided for folding the cylindrical dough I2I about the forming groove I23. The means for folding the dough about the forming groove I23 is best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, wherein oppositely disposed, semi-circular bands I24 and I25 are pivoted at their centers to curved links I25 and I2'I, as shown at I28 and I23, respectively. The other ends of the curved links I26 and I2? are pivoted onto their respective sections E2 of the work table, as shown at I3I and I32, respectively. The semi-circular bands I24 and I25 are arranged to engage a flexible band I33, the latter being fixed at its center to its cooperating section 72, as shown at I34. Cam means is provided for alternately causing the link I21 and link I25 to move the semi-circular bands I25 and I24 toward the forming groove I23. In so doing, the semi-circular portions I25 and I24 alternately fold the cooperating ends of the flexible band I33 into engagement with the cylindrical dough and fold the associated portions thereof about the forming groove I23 of the for ing plunger 73.

In the operation of the device, the cam means first folds one end of the cylindrical dough about the forming groove I23 by means of the curved lever I2'l and its associated parts. Thereafter, the folding mechanism carried by the curved lever I2'I is released from the dough and the other end of the cylindrical dough is folded about the forming groove by means of the curved lever I26 and its associated parts. The ends of the dough are somewhat overlapped and pressed into sufficient contact as to cause the dough to remain in circular form. The cam means for operating the curved lever I27 consists of a lever I35 pivoted intermediate its ends to section I2, as shown at I35. The free end of the lever I35 is provided with an upstanding cam roller I31, arranged to contact spaced stationary cams I38 and I39, the spaced stationary cams being carried by and projecting downwardly from the under surface of the stationary top I5 of the housing Ill. The other end of the lever I35 is pivotally connected at Idl to one end of lever I42, the other end of thelever being pivotally connected to the curved lever I21, as shown at I43. The cam mechanism for actuating the curved lever I23 employs similar levers I35 and I42, except the levers I35 and I42 are each oppositely disposed from the levers I35 and I42, asvclearly depicted in Figs. 2-. and i3. gltcangnow be understood that as thei and that as soon as the cam rollerifl comesinta contact with the-cams I38 and hit, thecurved lever I26 will be caused to: oscillate aboutitspivot point [3| for folding its; associated end of the dough about the forming groove in the; same manner as that described in connection: with-thecurved lever [27". It; is tabenoted that'each ot the sections 72 of the-octagonshaped top-3'8 the turret is provided with similarmeansio folding the dough about the forming groovez i 23 of the forming plunger '13. associated with: each of i the sections 12.

Means is provided for consecutivelydelivering cylindrical dough onto the Worktab-1a, whichv means consists of a ratchet it' l actuated bya pawl ljthe latter being carried by the outer end of the lever M6; the other end of the lever:

M6 being pivoted at. l-tl toa lever M3, the latter pivoted at an intermediate. point, as-indicat'ed at N39, to the top it: of the housing hi. Theefree endofthe'lever Mt is provided: with acam-roller m, the latter being held into contact-wit [the cam 51 by. means of a spring 52 having oneendiattached to thelever M3, asshownat' I53, an-ditsotherend attached to the supporting structure Hi5, as shown at 154. equal cam surfaces, and sinceithe cam 5i rotates inunison with the work table, the roller i l/twill turn accordingly and deliver apiece of cylindrical dough onto the work table aseach of the-sections 12 are broughtinto-alignmentwith the roller i it;

The operation of thedevicezisa's follows. The

divided dough, as. indicated at H6, is provided onto endless belt Hi9; thel'atter operating tecarry the dough through the passageway definedlbyi the belt and the band l tfoi: delivering thecylindri cal dough onto the longitudinal grcoveseofithe. roller lit, the latterbeing:rotated'in til'ned relation by way oi the cam 5i, which operates the ratchet I45 for turningthe roller Hit one-eighth of a revolution during the. rotation of thc-turret H8 one-eighth of a revolution, and thereoy supplying a piece of cylindrical dough successively onto-the work table. 72. in. alignment with/the.

associated forming cylinder and'formingplunger;

and as the turret rotates in: a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in- Figsh2. and 3,. the curve-:1 levers l2? and 926 will be actuated by theirrespcctive cam rollers l3? and 13'1", a aboveida scribed, to fold the dough: about the forming groov 23 provided on the forming plunger 13*.

This operation takes place during the travel of?- the forming plunger 13 through the horizontal distance, as indicated between A. and'B in" Fig: 14. As each of the-forming plungers 73: reaches;

1e point B, th track- 8i definingthepassageway 69 through which the cam roller fifi trav-els; will" cause the forming ,plungers it .to be brought:-

downwardly. The upper surfaceof the forming plunger 73'- may. be serrated orprovided with grooves, asindicated at I55. These grooves or serrations I55. engage the inner surfaceof? the"- toroid-shaped dough; and as: theplunge1-- T3";

moves downward during. the travel of: its'asso ciated SGCHOIIST2 fromt'he-point Biof the pas sageway (ill: to: the point; C; theitoroid willi b'ea'lfi' The cam: 51 is divided into eight i ment with the forming plunger 13.

carrie ddownwardly through the forming cylinder l4 and will be caused to rotate about an axiswithin its plane; which rotation inter-meshes and worksthe overlapping ends" ofthe cylindrical dough into a homogenous mass; and as the section '12 travels between the distance indicated between Band C of the Fig. 14, the cam mechanisms consisting of the stationary cam 98 and camroller 9E actuate to separate the segments 1! w and 18 of the formingcylinder from the stationa-ry'segment it, and themovement of the cam roller 93- in the cam slot 92' functions to open the hinge segments 11 and 78 for permitting the formed toroid to-fall onto the slide I93, the latter l operating to deliver the toroid to th conveyor 164. This operation is completed during the rotation of the: turret through the distance asindicated-between the points A and C. During the movement of th-esections i2 between the points v as indicated by (Band D a. cam roller 83 extendupwardly from thepi'vot point 9'3 of the lint: 3 will contact the inner surface of a stationary cam 96 depending frointhe unde surface of the top ll: of the housing and cause the roller 80 to straighten the 111113.55, the latter urging its cooperating arm iii in a counterclockwise. direction as viewed in Fig. 4 during which movement the linl: 85 is straightened by the cooperating cam roller 93 in cooperation with cam slot 92 and moving the sections El and '58 of theiorming cylinder into assembled relation. In the remainder of the rotation of the turret frointhe point D to the point A, the passageway til operates. to move th cooperating forming plunger 13.. upwardly by means of the T-shaped slide 5? guided'bythe T-shaped track 58, as abovedescribedso that as each of the sectionsfi2 come into, alignment with the roller l M, thelatter will operateitddeliver a cylindrical piece. of dough onto .the WOIK table. and in align- This operation is. completed eight timesduring. a single. ro.- tation of theturret l8 and thereby effects a con.- tinuous flow of formed toroids to the conveyor we,

The apparatus. providesa method oiiorining. dough. into a. toroid of virtually. uniform. thickness andconsists of the stepsof rolling the dough into.

a cylindrical form, the ends oiwhichmaytermi nate slightly tapered, the ,length of which is :greater than the main diameter ofi the desired" toroid, folding the cylindrical-.shapeddough into. annular form with its ends in overlapping relation for forming an irregular toroid and then in.

rolling the toroid along its axis of revolution While subjecting it to virtually uniform radial pressure along its entire circumference to form'a. regular toroid of uniform diameter.

Accordingly; there is provided a method and apparatus'for'forming dough into the shapeo'f' a toroid'that is efficient and pos-itive in'operation-tc deliver a continuous flow of toroid shaped dough. The apparatus is automatic in operation and excent from the belt mechanism forming the dough into cylindrical form, the entire mechanism is I actuate-hie froma single; vertical; axially disposed shaft within the apparatus. Themovable-parts of the apparatusaresubjected toverylittle rmbagels; has of"necessity heretofore R been cocain plished-manually.

'We'clain'r: a i

1. An apparatus for forming dou'ghincluding a supporting structure, a turret rotatably mounted within said structure, means for rotating said turret, a work table carried by said turret including a plurality of radially disposed work seetions, forming chambers carried by each of said sections, a forming plunger arranged for reciprocation through each of said forming cham bers, each of the forming plungers extending axially through its respective chamber in spaced relation to the walls thereof, means for supplying cylindrical dough pieces successively onto said work sections, means for folding apiece of cylindrical dough about said forming plunger, and means for lowering the said forming plunger downwardly through said forming chamber for rolling the folded dough along its axis of revolution whereby the folded dough is subjected to virtually uniform radial pressure along its entire circumference.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each of the said forming chambers includes a cylindrical portion fixed rigidly to its cooperating work section and a movable portion supported by said turret independent of said work section, and means for moving the said independently supported portion of said forming chamber out of and into assembled relation with the said cylindrical portion of said forming chamber.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said means for rotating the said turret includes a single means for actuating a means for vertically reciprocating the said forming plungers during the rotation of said turret.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said means for rotating the said turret includes a single means for actuating a means for vertically reciprocating the said forming plungers during the rotation of said turret.- the said reciprocating means including an arouate-shaped track circular in plan, a vertical track, a slide in said track having a cam roller arranged to engage and pass along the said arcuate-shaped track.

5. An apparatus for forming dough into a toroid including an annular work table divided into a plurality of radially disposed work sections, means for rotating said annular work table, means for successively delivering a piece of cylindrical dough onto said work sections, means carried by each of said work sections for folding the dough into a closed curve, and means for rotating the curved dough about an axis in its plane to form the dough into a homogenous toroid.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 5. wherein means is provided for rotating the said annular work table; the said means including a rotatably mounted turret having an axially disposed shaft rotatable therewith, the said shaft being arranged to actuate the said means for successively delivering dough onto the said work sections.

7. An apparatus for forming dough into a toroid including a rotatable work table divided into a plurality of radially disposed work sections, means for rotating said work table, means for successively delivering pieces of cylindrical dough of predetermined length onto the said work sections, cam means carried by each of said work sections for folding the cylindrical dough about a forming plunger, a forming cylinder carried by each of said work sections through which the said forming plungers are arranged to axially reciprocate, means for reciprocating the said forming plunger, the last said means including an arcuate-shaped track arranged to receive and guide rollers connected to said forming plunger, the said rollers being separately, slidably carried by a rotatable turret and means for rotating said turret.

8. An apparatus for forming dough into a toroid including a rotatable work table divided into a plurality of radially disposed work sections, means for rotating said work table, means for successively delivering pieces of cylindrical dough onto the said work sections, cam meanscarried by each of said work sections for folding the cylindrical dough about a forming plunger, a forming cylinder carried by each of said work sections through which the said forming plungers are arranged to reciprozate, means for reciprocating the said forming plunger, the last said means including an arcuate-shaped track, ar ranged to receive and guide rollers connected to said forming plunger, the said rollers being separately, slidably carried by a rotatable turret and means for rotating said turret, the means for rotating said turret including the said means for rotating said work table.

9. An apparatus in accordance 'with claim 8, wherein each of the said forming cylinders consists of a section stationary relative to its associated work section, and a hinged section movable relative to said work section, and cam means actuated by the rotation of said turret for moving the said hinged section into and out of assembled relation with the said fixed section of said forming cylinder.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein each of the said forming cylinders consists of a section stationary relative to its associated work section, and a hinged section movable relative to said work section, and cam means actuated by the rotation of said turret for moving the said hinged section into and out of assembled relation with the said fixed section of said forming turret, the last said means including cam means for actuating said hinged section, the said hinged section arranged to displace a toroid from the said fixed section of said forming chamber and deliver said toroid to a slide, the latter being positioned for delivering the said toroid onto a discharge conveyor.

11. An apparatus for forming dough into a toroid comprising, in combination with a source of pieces of cylindrical dough: a rotatably mounted work tab-1e provided with a plurality of circumferentially disposed work sections; a cylindrical forming chamber extending downwardly from each of the work sections; a reciprocatingly mounted forming plunger axially positioned in each of the forming chambers in spaced relation to the walls of such chamber; means carried by each work section of the table to fold a piece of cylindrical dough about a forming plunger; means for rotating the work table; means for reciprocating said forming plungers in timed relation to rotation of the work table; and means for supplying pieces of cylindrical dough from a source to said work sections in succession and in timed relation to rotation of the work table.

12. An apparatus of the character stated in claim 11 wherein each or the forming plungers is provided with a circumferential forming groove arranged to receive a dough piece being folded about the plunger.

13.,An apparatus of the character-stated in claim ,11 wherein each of the folding :means includes arcuate forming elements arranged to move flexible band means against a piece of dough.

1&. .An apparatus of the character :stated in claim 11 wherein each of the forming plungers is provided with ,a circumferential forming groove arranged to receive a dough piece being folded about the plunger, and each of the folding means H includes a :fiexible band and arcuate forming elements arranged tomove the flexible band against a piece of dough.

15. An apparatus of the character stated in claim 11 wherein each of the forming plungers is provided with a roughened surface to contact the internal surface of a dough piece folded there- 12 around and roll said piece into the forming chamber-during downward reciprocation of the forming plunger.

MEYER THOMPSON. DANIEL T. THOMPSON.

"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,552,430 'Gendler Sept. 8,1925 1355,921 Gendler Apr. 22, 19 0 2363390 Fox Nov. 18, 1941 2,365,349 MacManus Dec. 19,1944 

